CD - The Nature of Baptism - Matthew 28:18-20

Baptism is a sacred (holy) act. It was ordained by Christ. As our Bible reading says, it has water as a visible element, it is joined with God’s Word and offers forgiveness of sins. Therefore, according to our definition, it is a sacrament. The Greek word, baptize, means to wash. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day (and still today) had very strict rules for baptizing, that is, washing. However, their washing was only a religious, outward washing. I say religious because it was religiously done, not because any faith or Christianity was connected with it. Religious does not mean Christian. Religious simply means doing something regularly.

Holy Baptism is not simple washing, or simple water, but is water and God’s Word making a powerful means of grace, as spoken of in Matthew 28:19-20. Our Scripture reading tells us that, as we are traveling through our lives, we are to make disciples. We are to do this by baptizing them and teaching them. This baptizing and teaching brings about forgiveness and faith, a faith produced by the Holy Spirit through the Word and sacraments and is a gift of God.

We baptize in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. By baptizing in the name of, we place that person under the blessings and the obligations of that person. Therefore, a person baptized in the name of our Triune God is under the obligations and blessings of our Triune God, namely, God is his gracious Father. He has the full benefits of Jesus’ perfect life, suffering, death, and resurrection and the certainty of eternal life in heaven. The Holy Spirit brings him to faith and daily renews him and keeps him in faith. The obligations of this baptism is to strive (for no one can achieve it, as we are all sinners) to live Christ-pleasing lives. We are to strive to be Christ-like examples and witnesses.

Baptism is not some type of magic. It is simply a sacrament, a sacred act whereby we are washed with water and God’s Word. We are forgiven and given to faith. During baptism, the old Adam, our sinful nature, is drowned, dies, and we rise again, a new creation. Baptism is not merely a symbolizing, but is much more. It is a forgiveness. It is salvation (1 Peter 3:21). It can also be called an exorcism because Satan is cast out of us and we are freed from bondage to him. It is, as the Catechism says, a washing of regeneration (remaking) of the Holy Spirit. Daily, celebrate your baptism. Daily, remember you are God’s child. Daily, celebrate your certainty of eternal life in heaven.

Dear Father, I thank and praise You for having come to me through my baptism to make me Your child. I thank You for calling me out of my sinful darkness into the light of Your forgiveness, life, and salvation. Help me daily to remember my baptism in order that daily I might be strengthened in my faith. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.